Harvey: Texans' Clutts sees fullback as a big block party

Updated 11:09 pm, Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Photo: Jeff Gross

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Tyler Clutts' football odyssey has taken him from playing quarterback in high school to defense at Fresno State, above, to stops in the Canadian, Arena and United leagues to settling in as a fullback in the NFL. less

Tyler Clutts' football odyssey has taken him from playing quarterback in high school to defense at Fresno State, above, to stops in the Canadian, Arena and United leagues to settling in as a fullback in the ... more

Photo: Jeff Gross

Harvey: Texans' Clutts sees fullback as a big block party

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

When earlier this week the Texans introduced one of their most recent acquisitions, Tyler Clutts, you half expected a Geico caveman to enter the room.

You'd think by now, in his ninth year of playing the most rugged positions in the game since high school (with a brief break to sell insurance), Clutts would have a face like Rocky after his first beating by Apollo Creed or the last man standing in the MMA Octagon. He doesn't even have a broken nose.

On the contrary, he's unmarked, with the tanned, blond, laid-back look of a Southern California surfer. It's like Central Casting sent the Texans the wrong guy.

"I think he chipped a tooth once,'' said his father, Larry Clutts, by phone this week from the family home in Clovis, Calif., near Fresno.

You know what that tells you? It's not that Clutts, 27, hasn't been involved in rumbles. It's just that he's gotten the best of them.

That finally earned him a shot in the NFL with Cleveland before last season. The Browns placed him on the practice squad but couldn't hide him from Chicago, where he almost earned a berth as a special teams player in the Pro Bowl. When he became available again last week, the Texans traded for him.

"It's a dream come true, just everything that I've put into it,'' he said. "Never stopped training, kept grinding. It's something that's surreal … especially being here in Houston and the team they have and the attitude they have.

"I'm blown away by the character that's around here and the work ethic and the drive.''

Clutts will fit in nicely.

"I ask my wife where he got his determination,'' said his father, who retired after 40 years with AT&T and now works in IT at Fresno State. "I know he didn't get it from me. But the one thing I taught him was to stand next to the coaches on the sideline. It's not a kiss-up thing. But if they're looking for someone to get on the field in a hurry, they're going to see you first.''

It doesn't matter to Clutts what positions he's asked to play, as long as he plays. His father said the only two positions he hasn't played, other than kicker, are wide receiver and cornerback.

He's made his reputation as a special teams player. His favorite position, though, is fullback. That's not because he gets to carry the ball. He started there for the Bears last season and didn't have one run from scrimmage. (He did catch eight passes.) He prefers fullback because he gets to block for the guys who do carry the ball.